Types of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells in the skin. Left untreated, these cells can spread to other organs and tissues, such as lymph nodes and bone. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, affecting one in five Americans during their lifetimes, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Click through the slideshow to see pictures of skin cancer and learn the different types.

How Your Skin Works

Your skin works as a barrier to protect your body against things like water loss, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants. The outermost layer, the epidermis, is the layer in constant contact with the environment. While it sheds skin cells regularly, it can sustain damage from the sun, infection, or cuts and scrapes. The epidermis is made up of several different types of cells.

See images of each type of cancer on the remaining slides

Actinic Keratosis

Actinic keratosis is another type of red, pink, or rough patch of skin on sun-exposed areas of the body. This is the most common form of precancer and can develop into basal cell carcinoma in patients with a history of two or more skin cancers. While rare, these lesions can also be a precursor for squamous cell carcinoma and the two are often misdiagnosed as one another.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basa cells make up the lowest layer of the epidermis, the basal layer. Cancer inside this area is known as basal cell carcinoma, and it comprises about 80 percent of all cases of skin cancer. Most common in the head and neck, basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing cancer that rarely spreads to other parts of the body. It usually shows on skin as raised, waxy pink bumps. Infiltrative basal cell carcinoma can appear translucent with blood vessels near the skin’s surface.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma affects cells in the middle layer of the epidermis. It is typically more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma but only comprises about two out of every 10 skin cancer cases. It appears as red, scaly, and rough skin lesions, typically on sun-exposed areas such as the hands, head, neck, lips, and ears. Similar red patches may be squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen’s disesase), the earliest form of squamous cell cancer.

Melanoma

Less common than other types, melanoma is by far the most dangerous, causing about 75 percent of all skin cancer-related deaths. It occurs in the skin cells that create pigment, and it creates moles or lesions that follow an ABCDE pattern in their irregularities:

• asymmetrical shape
• border irregularities
• color
• diameter
• evolution of the lesion

The Four Major Types of Melanoma

Kaposi’s Sarcoma

While not typically considered a skin cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma is another type of cancer that involves skin lesions that are brownish-red to blue in color and usually found on the legs and feet. It affects the cells that line blood vessels close to the skin. This cancer is caused by a type of herpes virus and is typically associated with AIDS.

Who is at Risk?

Get More Information

The quicker skin cancer is detected, the better the long-term outlook. Check your skin regulary. If you notice abnormalities, consult a dermatologist for a complete examination. Learn how to self-examine your skin. 

Preventative measures such as wearing sunscreen or limiting your time in the sun is your best protection against all types of skin cancer.

Learn more about skin cancer and sun safety.